What Scientists Study Dinosaurs and Fossils?

Vertebrate paleontologists study prehistoric fish and other animals.

Organisms that lived millions of years ago may be extinct or completely different from anything that lives on the planet today. However, people who study fossils and dinosaurs can still glean a lot of information about the past from their fossilized remains, and they can apply that knowledge to the present. These scientists are called paleontologists.

Training

Although amateur paleontologists may make a difference in the scientific field, prospective paleontologists that wish to get paid for their work must complete a college degree in biology, geology or a combination of both disciplines. They should also take courses in evolutionary biology, genetics, zoology and statistics before graduating. After finishing their initial undergraduate degree, prospective paleontologists must then go to graduate school to complete a Master's degree or a doctorate degree. This process takes at least two years for a Master's degree, and may take up to eight years for a doctorate.

Job Description

Most paleontologists work in colleges and universities as professors. There, they teach the subject and conduct research. Archaeologists can also call in paleontologists to identify fossilized plant or animal life at a dig site. Paleontologists can either study fossils at the locations where they were found, or they can remove them and study them at their institution. Some people in the field work in museums, where they teach occasionally and perform research. Fossil fuel industries may also hire paleontologists to help them find sources of ancient organic matter that have been turned into oil.

Specializations

Although all paleontologists study the ancient past and gather information from prehistoric remnants of once-live creatures and plants, the field has several different specialties. Those who are interested in dinosaurs can be vertebrate paleontologists or may work in the ichnology area, analyzing fossilized footprints and tracks. The study of ancient plants is known as paleobotany, and an interest in pollen and spores is called palynology. Paleoanthropologists study the remains of humans, and paleoecologists attempt to figure out prehistoric climates by looking at fossils and other ancient indicators. Micropaleontologists analyze microscopic fossils, and the invertebrate field covers animals that did not have vertebrae, such as mollusks. A taphonomist studies the way organisms decay and how fossils form.

Benefits

Fossils are a record of the Earth's past. Every fossil that paleontologists identify and record contributes to our evolutionary history. They help us figure out how plants and animals developed over time and how humans came to be. Paleoecologists can also glean information from the distant past regarding the climate at the time and the effects that particular climate had on the plants and animals that were alive back then. This information can be useful when scientists assess the dangers of present-day climate change.

References

• Paleontological Research Institution: I Want to Be a Paleontologist
• University of California, Berkeley: What is Paleontology?
• University of California, Berkeley: Frequently Asked Questions